Not long ago a young man went home late. He had been in
the habit of going home late, and the father began to mistrust that he had gone
astray. He told his wife to go to bed, and dismissed the servants, and said he
would sit up till his son came home. The boy came home drunk, and the father in
his anger gave him a push into the street, and told him never to enter his house
again, and shut the door. He went into the parlor and sat down, and began to
think, "Well, I may be to blame for that boy's conduct after all. I have
never prayed with him. I have never warned him of the dangers of the
world." And the result of his reflections was that he put on his overcoat
and hat, and started out to find his boy. The first policeman he met he asked
eagerly, "Have you seen my boy?" "No." On he went till he
met another. "Have you seen anything of my son?" He ran from one to
another all that night, but not until the morning did he find him. He took him
by the arm and led him home, and kept him till he was sober. Then he said,
"My dear boy, I want you to forgive me; I've never prayed for you; I've
never lifted up my heart to God for you; I've been the means of leading you
astray, and I want your forgiveness." The boy was touched, and what was the
result? Within twenty-four hours that son became a convert and gave up that cup.